A SHARP rebuke has been sent to Imperial College from Ashford’s MP complaining of "secrecy" and "growing concern" over its £1billion plan at Wye.

Thousands of jobs are expected to be generated over the next 25 years if the project develops into a centre for researching bio fuels. At Wye Park alone some 5,000 jobs are expected to be created.

Damian Green fired off the letter after meeting Wye parish council to hear what they thought about the project.

After that meeting parish council chairman John Hodder said: "We expressed our fears about the magnitude of this proposed project in Wye.

"Wye is effectively a national park and it will be a major national problem if it is spoilt. The village is a gem in Ashford’s crown."

In his letter to Imperial’s deputy rector, Prof Sir Leszek Borysieiwicz, Mr Green wrote: "You will be aware of the widespread and growing concern not only about the plans themselves but about the apparent secrecy that surrounds them.

"I can only say that with every passing week I increasingly share those worries."

Mr Hodder added: "I’m pleased Mr Green has taken this up with Imperial College. So far their communications have been quite poor, but we’ve received a promise from them to do better."